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Take back the land for the common good
PAUL DONOVAN applauds a highly important book that appears at a crucial time in the present biodiversity and climate crisis
shrub

The Lie of the Land
Guy Shrubsole, William Collins, £22

THIS book provides vital reading for government ministers, activists and anyone who cares about the future of the planet.

Guy Shrubsole reveals how the limited number of people who own land in Britain have overseen the trashing of this asset under the guise of being good stewards.

There are telling statistics, such as that just 5 per cent of the land is taken for private homes and gardens. This figure rises to 8.8 per cent if the definition is extended to all land built on. A further 73 per cent is farmland and 10 per cent forestry.

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